University of Worcester graduate Chantalle Cox has taken a step to her dream career in the arts with a role helping to produce one of the biggest arts events in the Worcester calendar.
Graduate Chantalle Cox, other pictures show Light Night Worcester 2023
Chantalle, who graduated with a degree in Drama & Performance and English Literature last September, has an internship as assistant producer with Severn Arts, a charitable arts company based in the City.
The company organises a number of cultural events in the City, including this year’s Light Night Worcester, which Chantalle is helping to bring about. The event showcases light-based artworks and installations alongside inspiring artistic commissions for local artists and walkabout artists. The internship is funded by the University and runs until March.
Chantalle said it was giving her a chance to gain skills and crucially experience, which she hopes will provide a stepping stone to other job opportunities. “Everyone has been so nice – they’re so willing to help. It’s a collaborative environment,” said the 21-year-old, from Northfield, Birmingham, who has temporarily moved to St John’s, Worcester. “At the moment I’m figuring out what I’m enjoying. My aim is to gain as much experience as possible, in the hope that these skills can be transferred to other roles I do in the future.”
In recent years Severn Arts was a lead partner, alongside the University, Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council, in The Arches Worcester Project, to transform Worcester’s railways arches into a cultural and arts hub for the City. Severn Arts delivered a number of festivals as part of this project, including Light Night.
Returning for a fifth time thanks to funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Light Night 2024 will take place in Worcester city centre over two evenings on February 14 and 15.
Chantalle had been doing freelance work in stage management and writing before getting this role. So far she has already turned her hand to production, marketing, including social media work, and community outreach work. She is currently liaising with artists involved to make arrangements for Light Night and sourcing their materials, but is also working to get volunteers involved.
Due to academic commitments this will be the first year that Chantalle has actually experienced Light Night for herself. “I’m quite excited because they are aiming to make it bigger and better than years before,” she said. “I haven’t seen it before, but I’m looking forward to being there on the night and seeing how people react. I have been pre-warned that the week before will become very busy, but on the night I know it will be worthwhile. It’s giving me a glimpse into behind the scenes of things and it’s nice to have that information.”
Having finished university, Chantalle has continued to receive guidance from her academic tutor in finding job opportunities but has also found her new employers equally supportive. She has also become aware of other cities that run similar outdoor events and the opportunities this might present for future work in this field.
“I hope that I can find a similar job out of it,” she said. “Others from the university have had similar experiences [at Severn Arts] and have gone on to do big things, so no pressure!”